Who Killed Saturday Night TV?

Contents

Host

Barbara Housemann (narrator)

Broadcast

At It Productions for Channel 4, 10 July 2004

Synopsis

A review of selected highlights from the last 30 years of Saturday night television. The two-hour documentary made an attempt to answer the titular question, but concentrated on lashings of archive footage.

Part 1: Bruce Forsyth The story begins with The Generation Game, which gave the BBC a lock on the rest of the night. Bruce moved to ITV in 1978, and launched the two-hour Bruce Forsyth's Big Night, which featured the debut of The Pyramid Game, and a penalty kick game that's a bit like The Golden Shot. Bruce's replacement at The Generation Game was Larry Grayson. Interviews with Wayne Garvie (now head of BBC Entertainment), Alan Boyd (Generation Game producer 75-80), Paul Smith (Big Night producer), Isla St Clair.

Part 2: After Morecambe and WiseOpportunity Knocks graduates Little and Large put comedy on the BBC, Cannon and Ball responded for ITV. Channel 4's Saturday Live brought alternative comedy to the night. Interviews with the stars themselves, Steve Jackson (Cannon and Ball producer), and Ben Elton (comedian)

Part 6: A Conclusion Video recorders, greater disposable income, and more choices of entertainment mean that viewers aren't prisoners of the television schedule any more. Strictly Come Dancing is shown as a recent success. Interviews with Dawn Airey (Sky television) and Michael Jackson (former Channel 4 and BBC2 controller, who said "There is competition between television and life.")